Category: Okanagan

Admittedly, I normally go to a sushi place that is closer to my house but my usual place is closed on Mondays and sometimes I really need some Monday sushi after running morning errands. A quick google search showed some positive reviews about Sushi Q so I decided to pop in and grab some lunch to take home.

Here are the accessibility things of note:

• Parking isn’t difficult to find on this street (just off Main St.) and it’s directly outside the restaurant.
• There is a large curb to step up onto in order to get to the restaurant from the parking area. You could go over to where the crosswalk that is parallel to Main St. runs and access the sidewalk that way if you are in a wheelchair or other mobility device.
• All of the chairs and tables can be moved around inside. That said, all of the chairs have metal arms and I found them to be quite uncomfortable in terms of pinching my hips (I sat in one while I waited for my to-go order). The décor is very understated and sort of feels like being in a cafeteria, though I’m always more impressed with good food than with flashy décor.
• The woman who took my order was wonderful. She was welcoming, friendly and genuinely warm, and she was singing to herself as she worked in a way that indicated she is a happy person who enjoys her day.  For me, how comfortable I feel with the servers in a place will greatly influence whether or not I return.

I was craving some nigiri so that’s exactly what I ordered. I had tuna nigiri, salmon nigiri, tobiko nigiri, and tamago nigiri. Most of the nigiri was excellent. The fish was perfect and practically melted in my mouth. I will definitely order the tuna and salmon from Sushi Q again! The tobiko was exactly what you’d expect—salty little orbs of tastiness. The only small complaint I have is about the tamago. It was just slightly dry and rubbery. It was certainly edible, but I wouldn’t order it again. I understand it may be an infrequently ordered item and you certainly can’t make it fresh for every order so I give them a pass on this, especially considering just how perfect the tuna and salmon nigiri tasted.

I haven’t tried their tuna tataki, and it’s one of my favourite foods, so I’ll have to try that another time! While it’s not the most easily accessible of places in certain ways it’s clear that they know their way around customer service and seafood.

 

I know, it’s been a while since I’ve posted and there are a number of reasons that I won’t bore you with in this post. For now, I’ll dive back into some reviews!

I have nothing but spectacular reviews about Sandrine’s shop so let’s start with the important accessibility things of note:

• It’s located in a strip mall so there is dedicated parking with marked disability parking right near the entrance.
• There is a wide ramp leading right into the shop.
• There isn’t anywhere to sit down inside but this isn’t a restaurant. It’s where you come to buy treats to take home (or to eat in the car on the way home–no judgement).
• The shop is small but is also laid out in such a way that there is plenty of room for someone who is getting around in a wheelchair, with a walker, or with some other mobility device.

Sandrine (the shop is named after the owner, who can often be found working there) does offer savoury items such as Pâté, Tourtière, small batch Cassoulet, and more, but I haven’t tried any of those items so I can’t speak to their deliciousness (judging by the mastery of their sweet items, I can’t think of any reason that they don’t put as much care into all of their offerings).

I have tried a couple different varieties of their croissants and, in my opinion, they are the best that Kelowna has to offer!

There are some gorgeous desserts and I’ve tried a few of those and they taste as good as they look but the star of the show, for me, is their macarons! I’ve probably tried every flavour they make but since I’m making a great effort to eat more healthily I now focus on just my favourite goodies when I want to indulge and, for me, that is the lavender macaron with chocolate filling. I wish I could insert the sound of angels singing and the heavens opening up as I present to you this little magical cookie sandwich.

The outside has a slight crackle to it and the floral flavour pleases the senses. Then there is the rich, smooth, chocolately filling.  It’s a winning combination of textures and flavours and if you’ve ever wondered what to bring me (or someone else) as a hostess gift,  macarons make such a pretty little gift (they will put them in a pretty gift box, if you like).

Sandrine’s is not where you want to go for the cheapest treats but it is definitely where you want to go for the treats of the highest quality. They are a pleasure to the senses and they are worth every cent.

Here is a link to Sandrine’s website where you can see some tantalizing photos and learn about more of her offerings including cooking classes:

http://www.sandrinepastry.com/

What’s your favourite flavour of macaron? Leave a comment and let me know!

 

Bliss Bakery has 4 locations that I’m aware of; there are 2 in downtown Kelowna, 1 in West Kelowna, and 1 in Peachland. While all of the locations are different in layout and size, the food is consistent in the 2 locations that I have visited and I appreciate that. This post will specifically be about the West Kelowna location, unless otherwise noted.

Things of note (at the West Kelowna location):

• Bliss Bakery is in a large strip mall complex so there is lots of dedicated parking nearby.
• You won’t need to navigate stairs and the inside and outside seating areas are wheelchair accessible, including the bathroom.
• The outdoor seating consists of plastic chairs with arms and for that reason I don’t sit outside here. Additionally, this place doesn’t have a great view (the parking lot on 2 sides and the highway on the other). If you want to enjoy Bliss Bakery treats with a great view, be sure to visit the Peachland location. The outdoor seating looks across the street to the lake.
• Indoor seating is varied. There are booths, moveable metal chairs that are very sturdy (seriously, they are heavy duty) and don’t have arms (no pinching!), and couches/loveseats.
• I do find Bliss Bakery to be slightly more expensive than some of the other independent bakeries and cafes that we enjoy in the Okanagan, but not significantly so. This location is very convenient if you live in West Kelowna.

Bliss Bakery is one of the places my husband and I sometimes enjoy a breakfast date on the weekends. It can get quite busy around peak times (especially weekday lunch times, in my experience).  We’ve always been able to find a table when we want one, though sometimes we enjoy taking our food and drinks to go and savouring it down by the lake at Gellatly Bay that is only a few minutes away, by car.

My favourite breakfast treat is a fresh mixed-berry scone but they tend to sell out fairly quickly so get there early if you have your heart set on one. This particular time we arrived around 10:30am to find they were out of scones but I was able to have the last “mixed-berry tea biscuit”, which was basically a scone baked in a muffin tin with some drizzle on top. My husband enjoyed the cheese chorizo croissant. Both items are pictured below.

I nearly always get a non-fat London Fog latte here, and they run a bit on the sweet side but I find that to be a nice treat. Like most places these days, they will make your drink with whatever milk or milk alternative you specify.

They make sweet and savoury items and will serve them to you hot or cold, depending on the item and your preference. Some of the more substantial items include wraps, sandwiches, quiches, and more. They also sell some gluten-free items for those who are looking to meet specific dietary needs. They offer some drool-worthy dessert bars and pastries if you’re looking for a quick treat or want to load up a box to share with family or co-workers.

They’ve recently started offering bamboo straws (they come in a reusable cloth cover) with your cold drinks. The cost is $1 for the straw and it’s yours to keep, of course. If you’d like to purchase a straw but not a drink, you can have one for $3.

Have you tried any of the other Bliss Bakery locations? If so, let me know if you find them to be accessible in the comments. Also, be sure to let me know which dessert items you think I should try!

 

 

 

 

Sushi is one of my favourite things to eat but, as other sushi fans will know, it can be expensive when you’re feeding large groups (or teenagers—I have two of those). One of the great things about Tokyo 1 is that they have an all-you-can-eat system where you pay a set price for lunch (about $18/person) or dinner (about $26/person) and order as much as you want, including being able to order multiple times if you’re still hungry.

There are a few differences between the lunch and dinner menu, with the main one being that the most expensive items (sashimi, crab legs, etc.) are reserved for the dinner menu. This is not a buffet-style restaurant and thank goodness for that because sushi that sits out is not sushi I want to eat. Instead, every table is equipped with an Ipad that displays pictures and descriptions of the food. The menu is extensive and the portions (aside from rolls) are very small so they aren’t really meant for sharing, but you can order as many as you want.

There are many other Asian-inspired dishes that are not sushi, so even your non-sushi-loving friends and family members can enjoy a meal here. There are Chinese, Japanese, and Thai inspired items on the all-you-can-eat menu such as Asian curries, skewered meats, dumplings (gyoza and dim sum), various noodle dishes (pad thai, etc.), different types of fried rice, salads, soups, desserts, and more!

There are plenty of vegetarian items on the menu as well but if you are ordering them specifically because you are a vegetarian be sure to let them know or they might put veggie items on the same plate as fish items, for example. They are happy to keep them separate if you ask, though.

Things of note:

• There is dedicated parking so you’ll be able to find a spot nearby.
• There are no steps into or inside the restaurant.
• The bathrooms are wheelchair accessible.
• The tables are a combination of booths, bench seats along the wall, and sturdy chairs (without arms) that pull away from the tables. Any of the tables that aren’t booths can be moved around to accommodate large parties, larger people, or people with mobility devices.
• There is plenty of room to get around in this large restaurant.
• Chopsticks are automatically provided. If you’re unable to use them for any reason, you’ll have to request additional utensils.

Now for the really important stuff…the food!

 

Above: Edamame and assorted vegetable tempura.

Above: Agedashi tofu.

Above: Seaweed salad (I love the crunch of this stuff).

Above: Salmon nigiri. Salmon nigiri and tuna tataki are two of my all-time favourite foods. Unfortunately, tuna tataki is not offered at Tokyo 1. Fortunately, Kaiso in West Kelowna makes my favourite tuna tataki so I go there to get my fix. Nom! All those fantastic, healthy, tasty fish fats and proteins. The nigiri here is buttery and melts in your mouth, exactly the way it’s supposed to!

Above: Sakura Roll (spicy salmon, tobiko, avocado, tempura flakes, spicy mayo).

Above: White  Dragon Roll: Prawn, cucumber, avocado, tuna, tobiko, crab, spicy mayo.

The rolls were quite good but usually I skip them to make room for more nigiri. I wanted to try some different menu items, though, and share them here. I wish I was eating some salmon nigiri right now, but I pretty much always wish that.

If you’re looking to try something new give Tokyo 1 a try and let me know what you think about their food in the comments.

 

Illichman’s offers a wide selection of German and other European foods including fresh foods to prepare at home and prepared foods that can be enjoyed immediately. It’s one of our favourite spots in Kelowna to grab a sandwich to enjoy on one of the beaches nearby (Gyro Beach and Rotary Beach as just a few minutes away by car).

Things of note:

• Illichman’s has dedicated parking and I’ve never had difficulty finding a spot.
• There is a gentle sloping ramp leading to the doors (there are two entrances but more on that later).
• There is sufficient space to get around with a mobility device.
• I’m not sure that they have public washrooms.
• There are a few stools and tables if you wish to eat there but the chairs are very high and would definitely not be comfortable for me. I’m always grabbing food to go, though, and it seems that is what most people do.

There are two entrances as the building is divided into two parts. One side offers deli meats and salads, fresh cuts of meat to be prepared at home, frozen items, canned and jarred goods, and plenty of candy and other treats, most of which are from Europe.

 

The other side offers hot lunch items, sandwiches made to order, and all kinds of baked goods that are made on site (see pics above).

We usually stop in for our picnic sandwiches but on this visit we were looking  to splurge on desserts for the family. Below is a piece of their fudgey, dense chocolate cake, and a creamy slice of bienenstich cake (AKA bee sting cake).

Above: We picked up a few other treats including these little marzipan cakes and the chocolate “salami”. The label says it’s a combination of dark chocolate, dried cherries, biscotti, candied orange peel, and a bit of amaretto. We haven’t tried it yet but it’s certianly making it onto my next charcuterie platter!

Being that most of the items are imported or made fresh, you will find that this isn’t an inexpensive place to shop but the quality and variety make it worth the cost when you’re looking to treat yourself or someone else.  Have you tried Illichman’s? What are your favourite things to eat from there? Let me know in the comments, please!